Features Comparison
While most of today’s cooler competitors already include the necessary LGA 1156 mounting hardware, two require additional components. Sunbeamtech’s accessory mounting brackets cost around $10, while Xigamtek’s $8 universal LGA adapter is expected to eventually replace the dual-compatibility part included in current samples.
| LGA 1156 CPU Cooler Features | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Top Height | Base Height | DIMM Intrusion | Number of Fans | Fan Size | PWM Control | LGA 1156 | LGA 1366 | LGA 775 | AM3 / AM2 |
| Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro R2 | 131mm | 28mm | 12mm | One | 92mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 160mm | 38mm | 6mm | One | 120mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Noctua NH-D14 | 160mm | 46mm | 42mm* | Two | 120mm, 140mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scythe Mugen-2 Rev. B | 156mm | 41mm | 28mm | One | 120mm | Yes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer | 156mm | 38mm | 10mm | One | 120mm | No | x | x | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermalright MUX-120 | 161mm | 47mm | 2mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | x | x | x |
| Thermaltake Frio | 162mm | 28mm | 11mm | Two | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme | 156mm | 47mm | 9mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Xigmatek Thor's Hammer | 160mm | 44mm | 24mm | Two | 120mm | No | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 160mm | 37mm | 8mm | One | 120mm | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Top height in the chart above refers to the amount of mounting space needed to install the cooler in a case. Base height refers to component clearance space under the bottom fins, a number required to determine whether large coolers will fit over various motherboard sinks. DIMM intrusion refers to how far the sink extends beyond the front edge of the 3.75”-wide silk-screened outline that surrounds most LGA 1156 sockets.
Notice that all of today’s coolers extend beyond the outline that surrounds the socket. Base height can also be used to determine maximum memory height for DIMMs that fall under the cooler’s front fan.
Noctua’s NH-D14 gets an asterisk following its DIMM intrusion number because this particular cooler has a center fan that can be used with or without the front fan. Removing the front fan lessens DIMM encroachment by 25mm, though it also reduces the performance of the heat sink.
